Motorcyclist riding with group dies in crash

A 58-year-old motorcyclist from Gainesville died Saturday afternoon when she crashed while riding with a group of people in Silver Springs, according to Florida Highway Patrol troopers.

By Austin L. MillerStaff writer

SILVER SPRINGS — A 58-year-old motorcyclist from Gainesville died Saturday afternoon when she crashed while riding with a group of people in Silver Springs, according to Florida Highway Patrol troopers.The accident occurred on Northeast 145th Avenue Road near Northeast 46th Street. The road is a two-lane roadway, with several curves.Troopers said Marta G. Artenzio-Mills, of Gainesville, was heading northbound on Northeast 145th Avenue Road, negotiating a lefthand curve approaching 46th Street when her motorcycle went off the roadway and she lost control of the bike, ejecting her.Artenzio-Mills was pronounced dead at the scene, officials said. She was not wearing a helmet, troopers said.Officials said Artenzio-Mills was among 10 motorcyclists in the group, and they were all riding single-file. Speed, troopers said, was not an issue.The majority of the riders who were part of the group declined to talk to the Star-Banner.One of them, Jeff Gehman, did say they are part of a group that enjoys riding, most of whom are from Gainesville. When they meet, they usually go on long bike rides, he said. In those rides, usually every weekend, they will travel to different places and, along the way, stop at various communities or landmarks to eat and sightsee.The dead woman was a veteran motorcycle rider with 30 years of experience, Gehman said."She's a very accomplished rider," he said.The death is the second fatality in two days in Marion County and the county's 37th traffic-related death for the year.On Friday, 72-year-old Robert W. Ratliff, a seasonal resident who lives both in Illinois and Ocala, was killed when the 1979 Dodge 200 van he was driving ran off the roadway as he was traveling southbound on Northwest Gainesville Road and collided head-on into a palm tree at the intersection of Northwest 63rd Street. The impact sheered off the top of the palm tree.Ratliff was pronounced dead by a paramedic on scene, officials said.Authorities said it is not yet known if Ratliff, who was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, had a medical condition or why the van ran off the road.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.